Oscars 2014 - Nominations and Predictions!

It's been a full year since my first Oscars post. Another phenomenal year for movies and an incredible selection to choose from once again. In the next few hours, the Oscars will be upon us and we will find out the answer to the Internet's biggest question; "Will Leo win best actor?". Personally, I'm doubtful. This years heavyweights - 12 Years a Slave and Gravity created huge buzz and have a lot in their corner. Down below are the awards I will be paying close attention too and below each topic is my prediction. 

 

Best Visual Effects

• Gravity (Tim Webber, Chris Lawrence, Dave Shirk, Neil Corbould)
• The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug (Joe Letteri, Eric Saindon, David Clayton, Eric Reynolds)
• Iron Man 3 (Christopher Townsend, Guy Williams, Erik Nash, Dan Sudick)
• The Lone Ranger (Tim Alexander, Gary Brozenich, Edson Williams, John Frazier)
• Star Trek Into Darkness (Roger Guyett, Patrick Tubach, Ben Grossmann, Burt Dalton)

Prediction - Gravity

Best Film Editing

• American Hustle (Jay Cassidy, Crispin Struthers, Alan Baumgarten)
• Captain Phillips (Christopher Rouse)
• Dallas Buyers Club (John Mac McMurphy, Martin Pensa)
• Gravity (Alfonso Cuarón, Mark Sanger)
• 12 Years a Slave (Joe Walker)

Prediction - Gravity

 

Best Actress in a Supporting Role

• Sally Hawkins (Blue Jasmine)
• Jennifer Lawrence (American Hustle)
• Lupita Nyong'o (12 Years a Slave)
• Julia Roberts (August: Osage County)
• June Squibb (Nebraska)

Prediction -  Lupita Nyong'o

 

Best Actor in a Supporting Role

• Barkhad Abdi (Captain Phillips)
• Bradley Cooper (American Hustle)
• Michael Fassbender (12 Years a Slave)
• Jonah Hill (The Wolf of Wall Street)
• Jared Leto (Dallas Buyers Club)

Prediction - Barkhad Abdi

 

Best Actress in a Leading Role

• Amy Adams (American Hustle)
• Cate Blanchett (Blue Jasmine)
• Sandra Bullock (Gravity)
• Judi Dench (Philomena)
• Meryl Streep (August: Osage County)

Prediction - Sandra Bullock

 

Best Actor in a Leading Role

• Christian Bale (American Hustle)
• Bruce Dern (Nebraska)
• Leonardo DiCaprio (The Wolf of Wall Street)
• Chiwetel Ejiofor (12 Years a Slave)
• Matthew McConaughey (Dallas Buyers Club)

Prediction - Chiwetel Ejiofor (We are all rooting for you Leo!)

 

Best Directing

• American Hustle (David O. Russell)
• Gravity (Alfonso Cuarón)
• Nebraska (Alexander Payne)
• 12 Years a Slave (Steve McQueen)
• The Wolf of Wall Street (Martin Scorsese)

 Prediction - The Wolf of Wall Street (Martin Scorsese)

 

Best Picture

• American Hustle
• Captain Phillips
• Dallas Buyers Club
• Gravity
• Her
• Nebraska
• Philomena
• 12 Years a Slave
• The Wolf of Wall Street

Prediction - 12 Years a Slave

 

What do you think about my predictions? Leave your ideas below in the comment section!

Star Trek - Into Darkness REVIEW -SPOILERS-

Welcome back to Black Ribbon Reviews!

J.J Abrams has done it again, Into darkness is a brilliantly made film and visually beautiful. Star Trek was always controversial with its use of current situations to display through popular culture and really helped to revolutionise the casting for productions of all type and style. Abrams has held the classic integrity and uses Kahn to represent the terrorist threat of Al Qaeda.

In the opening of the movie, we follow a chase scene through a vivid red forest of a sheathed Kirk who is being chased by aliens with white faces in bright yellow clothing. The contrast of colour is amazing and certainly needs to be seen on the big screen to truly appreciate it. Once this introduction scene is over, we are introduced to our bad guy for the evening; Khan. Any Trekkie will know this name from an older Star Trek film "Wrath of Kahn" (Yet I'm no Trekkie and was still aware of this!). Then some explosions happen and Kirk travels into enemy territory to kick some butt, only to find the Kahn is a one man army who is superior to everyone.

Visually this movie is flawless. I can't help but think of what it would have looked like in 3D. Set designs were extensive and modern. Building were a mix of classic with a splash of modern architecture. The CGI is exactly the same. The Enterprise looked lifelike and when it shot into warp it kept its definition and colour without being stretched and looking ridiculous. The fight scenes were also executed very well. However some of the movements seemed over exaggerated and could have done with a little less super hero effects.

With a collection of the current biggest actors, this film isn't short of brilliant performances. Chris Pine does a brilliant representation of Kirk, his facial expressions blend and he acts with ease and efficiency. Benedict Cumberbatch's portrayal of Kahn is admirable, however I felt his facial expressions are a little over the top and as much as they help convey anger, they make him look like he is sobbing or having a tantrum. Apart from this he plays Kahn well. However, Karl Urban who plays Bones (the doctor dude) is very annoying. I'm not sure if it is the character or him. Bones likes to say "Dammit" a lot and spout some poetry, yet Karl doesn't help when he doesn't have the ability to move any facial muscles to make him smile for once. He looks like he has been hit with a spade and is still reeling from the shock. The rest of the cast are very good and all play there parts brilliantly.

The initial story for Into Darkness is very simple. Kahn is killing people, Stop him. Yet deeper into the story we are confronted by another evil using Kahn for his gain and Kirk and Kahn team up to stop this threat. I'm not going to ruin the plot for you but stuff goes down! Expect a few plot twists.

Overall this movie is beautifully shot, written and executed. With fluid fight scenes and witty one liners the story doesn't lose its charm, but isn't diminished by the gritty aspect of the story. I recommend seeing it and I agree with IMDB's rating for it. 8.5/10